Sam Sutton (politician)
Sam Sutton | |
|---|---|
_NYS_Senator_Sam_Sutton_(cropped).jpg) Sutton in 2025 | |
| Member of the New York Senate from the 22nd district | |
| Assumed office May 27, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Simcha Felder |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Solomon Sutton August 14, 1949 New York, New York |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Website | Legislature website Campaign website |
Solomon "Sam" Sutton (born 1949)[1][2] is an American nonprofit executive and politician serving as a member of the New York State Senate from the 22nd district. A Democrat, he won a May 2025 special election to succeed Simcha Felder, who resigned after being elected to the New York City Council.[3]
Career
Sutton served with the Sephardic Bikur Holim, a social service organization, for 30 years. He has also worked for the Sephardic Community Federation, New York Cancer Center, the Safe Foundation, and is a former trustee of the CUNY Board of Trustees as well as of the NYU Langone Medical Center.[4] He is also a co-founder and board chair of Teach NYS, a group advocating for funding to nonpublic schools such as yeshivas and Jewish day schools.[5]
He previously ran a business importing women's accessories.[6]
New York State Senate
Following Simcha Felder's resignation to join the New York City Council, the Brooklyn Democratic Party nominated Sutton as its nominee for the special election to fill the vacant seat.[4] Although the district overwhelmingly voted for Republican President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, giving him 77% of the vote, it generally supports conservative and moderate Democrats at the local level, largely due to bloc voting from its Orthodox Jewish population[7][8] Sutton defeated Republican and Conservative candidate Nachman Carl Caller in the May 20, 2025 election.[3] His election makes him the first Sephardic Jew elected to the state senate.[9]
He was sworn in on May 27, 2025. He was appointed chair of the Administrative Regulations Review Commission and is a member of the Aging, Disabilities, Education, Health, New York City Education, and Social Services committees.[1]
Personal life
_NYS_Senator_Sam_Sutton.jpg)
Sutton is a Sephardic Jew and longtime community activist within New York's Sephardic community.[8] He wears a kippah and keeps kosher.[2]
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Sam Sutton | 8,661 | 66.85% | |
| Republican | Nachman Caller | 3,640 | 28.10% | |
| Conservative | Nachman Caller | 517 | 3.99% | |
| Total | Nachman Caller | 4,157 | 32.09% | |
| Write-in | 138 | 1.07% | ||
| Total votes | 12,956 | 100.00% | ||
| Turnout | ~8% | |||
| Registered electors | 155,468 | |||
References
- ^ a b Gronich, Marc (June 6, 2025). "Sam Sutton Quietly Begins Career In The State Senate". The Jewish Press. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
- ^ a b Gronich, Marc (April 23, 2025). "Senator Simcha Felder Bids Fond Farewell To The State Senate, As Special Election Looms". Jewish Press. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^ a b Gans, Jared (May 20, 2025). "Democrats win New York state Senate race in Trump-friendly district". The Hill. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^ a b "Sephardic Community Leader Launches Brooklyn Senate Bid". BK Reader. April 18, 2025. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^ "Teach NYS Leads Historic Interfaith Coalition Trip to Albany". Orthodox Union. May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^ Ngo, Emily; Coltin, Jeff; Reisman, Nick (April 11, 2025). "Call to action after scary day for air travel". Politico. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^ Campanile, Carl (May 18, 2025). "GOP fights to flip NY Senate seat in Tuesday special election after Trump won big in blue territory". New York Post. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^ a b Lewis, Rebecca (May 20, 2025). "GOP looks to flip a southern Brooklyn Senate seat". City and State. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^ Lewis, Rebecca (May 20, 2025). "Democrat Sam Sutton wins special Senate election in southern Brooklyn". City and State. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
- ^ "UNOFFICIAL ELECTION NIGHT RESULTS - State Senator 22nd Senatorial District". BOARD OF ELECTIONS IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
